52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks: #2 Lucy Hugens

This excerpt, written by Cyrus Nash (1780-1850) of Abington, Massachusetts, was found in The Reed Genealogy: Descendants of William Reade of Weymouth, Massachusetts from 1635-1902 by John Ludovicus Reed. 

This week’s 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks prompt, “a record that adds color,” is a perfect fit for Lucy Hugens, the wife of Peter Reed and the presumed mother of Benjamin Reed. I did not expect to find much about Lucy. Given the time period and what appears to have been a modest economic status, she left few records of her own. What does add color to Lucy’s story is the above narrative by Cyrus Nash. In just a few paragraphs, Nash provided details that no town or land record ever could.

Nash identified Lucy’s father only as “Mr. Hugens,” an Irish immigrant who married a much younger woman, also from Ireland. According to the account, Lucy’s mother arrived in New England as a teenager, intending to meet an aunt in Pennsylvania. When her ship instead landed in Boston, she was indentured to pay her passage and later married Mr. Hugens in Abington—an experience that Nash’s description suggests contrasted with her earlier life in Ireland.

Nash names Lucy and three siblings: John Hugens, a sister married to Hosiah Porter of Weymouth, and another sister married to a man named Lot Randall. These brief references open valuable research paths.

What can be documented about Lucy comes from a small set of records. She and Peter Reed were married on 25 March 1748 in Abington, Plymouth County, Massachusetts. Later that same year, Peter and Lucy were warned to depart the town of Bridgewater. Lucy appears by name in the Abington birth records of two of her children—Sarah, born in 1757, and Samuel, born in 1760. In 1762 and again in 1763, while living in Bridgewater, Peter and Lucy were warned to remove to Abington. These records do not tell Lucy’s story outright, but together they place her firmly in time and place.

In additional remarks, Nash wrote that Peter died in 1780 and that Lucy removed to Cummington. This movement aligns with what is known about the family, as Benjamin Reed already lived in Cummington, and both of Lucy’s daughters married there in the 1780s.

When paired with marriage, birth, and town records, Nash’s narrative adds dimension to Lucy’s life and provides clues that help guide further research into a woman who otherwise appears only intermittently in the historical record.

If you would like to learn more about the families I research, follow my Facebook page , where I share each post along with other genealogical finds.

Diana

© 2026

John Ludovicus Reed, The Reed Genealogy: Descendants of William Reade of Weymouth, Massachusetts from 1635-1902 Vol. I  (no publisher named, 1901). 

Massachusetts, U.S., Marriages, 1633–1850, digital images, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/2495/images/40904_263574__0005-00142

 : accessed 10 January 2026), image 142 of 192, Abington marriages, marriage of Peter Reed and Lucy Hugens, 25 March 1748, Congregational Church, Abington, Plymouth County, Massachusetts; citing Massachusetts Vital Records, Abington, Family History Library microfilm 1,409,404.

Massachusetts, U.S., Town and Vital Records, 1620–1988, digital images, image 243, entry for the marriage of Sarah Reed and Joel Hill, 30 October 1782, Cummington, Hampshire County, Massachusetts; Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/2495/records/58991557?tid=45260559&pid=412222903562&ssrc=pt  : accessed 16 May 2024).

Cummington, Hampshire, Massachusetts, United States records, images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-8979-H9YZ?view=explore

 : accessed 11 January 2026), image 134 of 162, entry for the marriage of Jacob Nash and Joanna Reed, 27 November 1788, Cummington Town Clerk; Image Group Number 007009226.

Plymouth, Massachusetts, United States records, images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CS41-RST6-P?view=explore

 : accessed 11 January 2026), image 396 of 407, entry for Peter and Lucy Reed warned, 1748, Plymouth County Court of General Sessions of the Peace; Image Group Number 007902905.

Plymouth, Massachusetts, United States records, images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C9B2-G9G5-S?view=explore

 : accessed 11 January 2026), image 156 of 971, entry for Peter and Lucy Reed warned, 1762 and 1763, Plymouth County Court of General Sessions of the Peace, volumes 2–6; Image Group Number 007726241.

Clippings from The Baylor County Banner - Seymour, Texas - April 26, 1923

My grandparents, Redic E. Bryan and Myrtie Hairston, and my great-grandparents, Phillip A. Hairston and Lodema Criswell, moved to Baylor County in 1905. My father, Whit Criswell Bryan, was born in Seymour in 1920. He was the youngest of seven children born to Redic and Myrtie. 

In April 2019, I visited the Texas State Library and Archives to read Baylor County Banner issues that could not be found online or on microfilm. I photographed articles with information about my father's family who lived in Seymour. While sorting through my family finds, I realized I had photos of articles that might interest others looking for family. I have pictures of numerous articles from 1923 and a few from other years. I will post as time allows. 

Thank you to Matt Gwinn at the Baylor County Banner for giving me permission to post these clippings.  

If you want to know more about the families I research, click here to like my Facebook page where you will see each post and other genealogical finds. 

Diana

© 2020 

Sources 

Harrison, O. C. The Baylor County Banner. (Seymour, TX.), Vol. 27*, No. 31. 26 Apr 1923. Print. Accessed 15 April 2019. 

*Note that January and February issues were part of Vol. 28. This and all March and April issues were printed as Vol. 27. In May, it goes back to Vol. 28. 

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks: #45 Mary Elizabeth "Mollie" Hairston White is the Twin Sister of Sarah Jane "Sallie" Hairston McBurnett

The solid lines indicate that the connection to the family is documented while
the dotted lines indicate that direct evidence has not yet been found to
make the connection. Click on the family tree to see a larger image.

Twins, Mary Elizabeth "Mollie" and Sarah Jane "Sallie" Hairston, the daughters of Samuel B. Hairston and Matilda Glasgow, were born on March 10, 1854 in LaGrange, Troup County, Georgia. Their father, Samuel B. is thought to be the brother of my great-great-grandfather, John L. Hairston. 

This post is about Mollie, as I have written about Sarah Jane in a previous post. Click here to see the post about Sarah Jane. 

Found in The Crosbyton Review. Vol. 1, No. 38, Ed. 1 Thursday, September 30, 1909
No mention is made in the newspaper regarding the photograph or the individuals pictured.

Mary Elizabeth "Mollie" married Nathaniel H. White on March 15, 1874 in Alabama. They were living in Randolph County, Alabama in 1880. They were first in Bell County and by 1890 settled in Lott, Falls County, Texas. From there the family lived in Haskell County, Jones County, and Crosby County. Nathaniel White and his sons ran newspapers in all of those towns, beginning in Lott and eventually founding the Crosbytown Review in 1909. 

The Crosbyton Review -Thursday, October 6, 1910

Although Mollie's husband and son, Frank moved to Crosbyton early in 1909, Mollie remained in the town of Hawley in Jones County until her home burned to the ground on April 2, 1909. It was reported that she lost a chest containing 45 unused quilts, many things that she had preserved as reminiscences of the past, and beautiful pictures that hung on the walls of the home. 


In Crosbyton, Mollie was active in the the Ladies Aid Society and numerous church and community activities. For several years in Crosbyton, she sold hats. 

By 1913, the Crosbyton Review was sold. Mollie and her husband lived in or near Crosbyton for at least the next 6 or 7 years. Eventually, they moved to Center Point, Kerr County, Texas where Mollie passed away in 1925 and Nathaniel in 1937. Both are buried in the Center Point Cemetery. 

Mollie's obituary, written as Millie E. (Harrison) White, can be found at The Portal to Texas History in the Crosbyton Review. Nathaniel White's obituary can be seen by clicking here. 

Center Point Cemetery, Kerr County, Texas - Courtesy of Nancy Price 

Mollie and Nathaniel had a baby girl who died at nine months and a boy, probably Nathaniel, that died at nine years old. Six other children are listed below. 

Frank Edward White was born on January 24, 1876 in Randolph County, Alabama. He married Georgia Fatheree in 1896. She died in 1905 and Frank married Nancy "Nannie" Elizabeth Lawrence McCall about two years later.  In Crosbyton, Frank served as a Justice of the Peace, editor the Crosbyton Review and part owner of the White Printing Company. Frank died on February 22, 1959 and is buried in the Center Point Cemetery. Click here to see an article about his death along with his photograph in the Crosbyton Review. 

Lena E. White was born about 1877 in Alabama. She was said to have been married to Harvey Starnes. They had one child, Gertrude Marie Starnes. In 1900, 22 year old Lena was divorced and living with her parents in Falls County, Texas. According to her mother's obituary, Lena died at age 24. Mollie and Nathaniel raised Gertrude. 

Louella Eloise White was born in December 1884. In 1904, she married George M. Hill and had children, George M. Jr. and Lois (sometimes seen as Jean). She and George were divorced as George married Jewell Scott in June of 1918. Little more is known abut Louella, who was sometimes referred to as Eloise in newspaper articles about the family. 

Kelley Stephen White was born on October 27, 1889 in Temple, Bell County, Texas. By age 21, he was living in Crosbyton, where he worked for the White

Kelley's name is often seen as Kelly; however, this
signature, found on his WWI Draft Registration
Card, indicates that he spelled his name as Kelley.

Printing Company and was married to Bessie Boggs. In Crosbyton, he was active in the Modern Woodmen of America. When in New Mexico in 1917, Kelley reported that his occupation was farming on his WWI Draft Registration Card. In 1920, he was farming in Cosby County. Kelley worked as a printer in a newspaper office in Kerrville from at least 1930 to 1940. In the 1950s, he was found working as a foreman at the Austin Tribune. Kelley S. White died on February 28, 1972 in Bakersfield, California. He is buried with his wife in Portales Cemetery, Portales, Roosevelt, New Mexico. 

Hollie Clifford White was born in Lott, Falls County, Texas on June 26, 1896. He was 13 years old and in school when his family moved to Crosbyton. He served in the army as a bugler during WWI. He married Ivah Berea Lester and they had at least three children. By 1930, the family was living in Kerrville, but moved to Garza County by 1937.  Hollie died at age 43 from Toxemia as a result of Tuberculosis. He and his wife Ivah are buried in Resthaven Cemetery in Southland, Garza County, Texas. 

Sallie B. White, the youngest child of Mollie Hairston and Nathaniel White was born in Lott, Falls County, Texas on March 10, 1894. She married John Rector Ward, a printer, and had children Mollie and Kenneth. Sallie worked for telephone companies in Texas and New Mexico. She died on July 17, 1979 and is buried in Groom Cemetery in Carson County, Texas along with her husband and daughter. 

Diana

© 2014

Sources

Ancestry.com. Texas, Death Certificates, 1903–1982 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2013.

Ancestry.com. U.S., Find A Grave Index, 1600s-Current [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2012.

Ancestry.com. U.S. City Directories, 1821-1989 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011.

Ancestry.com. U.S., World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2005.

Bennett, Patrick, editor. The Crosbyton Review. (Crosbyton, Tex.), Vol. 51, No. 12, Ed. 1 Thursday, March 19, 1959, Newspaper, March 19, 1959; (http://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth243459/ : accessed December 09, 2014), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, http://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Crosby County Public Library, Crosbyton, Texas.

Curry, W. M., editor. The Crosbyton Review. (Crosbyton, Tex.), Vol. 17, No. 6, Ed. 1 Friday, February 20, 1925, Newspaper, February 20, 1925; (http://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth242720/ : accessed December 07, 2014), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, http://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Crosby County Public Library, Crosbyton, Texas.

Curry, W. M., editor. The Crosbyton Review. (Crosbyton, Tex.), Vol. 29, No. 33, Ed. 1 Friday, August 13, 1937, Newspaper, August 13, 1937; (http://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth243025/ : accessed December 07, 2014), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, http://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Crosby County Public Library, Crosbyton, Texas.

White, F. E., editor. The Crosbyton Review. (Crosbyton, Tex.), Vol. 1, No. 13, Ed. 1 Thursday, April 8, 1909, Newspaper, April 8, 1909; (http://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth242131/ : accessed December 09, 2014), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, http://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Crosby County Public Library, Crosbyton, Texas.

White, F. E., editor. The Crosbyton Review. (Crosbyton, Tex.), Vol. 1, No. 38, Ed. 1 Thursday, September 30, 1909, Newspaper, September 30, 1909; (http://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth242156/ : accessed December 07, 2014), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, http://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Crosby County Public Library, Crosbyton, Texas.

White, Frank E., editor. The Crosbyton Review. (Crosbyton, Tex.), Vol. 2, No. 40, Ed. 1 Thursday, October 6, 1910, Newspaper, October 6, 1910; (http://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth242208/ : accessed December 07, 2014), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, http://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Crosby County Public Library, Crosbyton, Texas.

North, J. (1918, June 30). Texas Editor Wed. Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Retrieved December 4, 2014, from http://www.genealogybank.com/gbnk/

Year: 1860; Census Place: Southern Division, Randolph, Alabama; Roll: M653_22; Page: 683; Image: 289; Family History Library Film: 803022.


Year: 1870; Census Place: Fredonia, Chambers, Alabama; Roll: M593_6; Page: 87A; Image: 176; Family History Library Film: 545505.

Year: 1900; Census Place: Lott, Falls, Texas; Roll: 1632; Page: 3B; Enumeration District: 0021; FHL microfilm: 1241632.

Year: 1910; Census Place: Justice Precinct 2, Crosby, Texas; Roll: T624_1539; Page: 2B; Enumeration District: 0034; FHL microfilm: 1375552

Year: 1920; Census Place: Justice Precinct 2, Crosby, Texas; Roll: T625_1786; Page: 46A; Enumeration District: 40; Image: 507

Year: 1930; Census Place: Kerrville, Kerr, Texas; Roll: 2367; Page: 8B; Enumeration District: 0007; Image: 66.0; FHL microfilm: 2342101

Year: 1940; Census Place: Kerrville, Kerr, Texas; Roll: T627_4086; Page: 17A; Enumeration District: 133-2A